Speaking of Dividends

Powering Up the Payout

Duke Energy lifts quarterly to 78 cents, yield to 4.6%.

With more than $110 billion in assets, Duke Energy is the largest electric- power holding company in the U.S. by dint of its July 2012 merger with Progress Energy. Duke (Barron's, June 10, "Slow and Steady Wins the Race," and frequent mentions at Barrons.com) has an 87-year history of consecutive dividend payments, and it boosted its payout for the sixth year in a row on Tuesday.

The Charlotte, N.C., company will now pay 78 cents a common share quarterly, versus 76.5 cents. That will power up investors' take by...